UQ is offering a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering in partnership with the Institute of Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in the UK.

The UK school is recognised internationally as a petroleum engineering centre of excellence and has strong links to industry worldwide.

The course aims to address the unprecedented rate of oil and gas production globally and meet the growing demand for highly skilled workers in eastern Australia.

Professor Andrew Garnett, director of the university's Centre for CSG, said there would be many opportunities for graduates within the Australian CSG industry and more broadly, across the oil and gas sectors.

"Well-qualified engineers and geoscientists are in high demand to help companies overcome technological, environmental, social and commercial challenges," he said.

"Natural gas is increasingly becoming a major source of energy and this new masters program will provide new and exciting employment prospects for our graduates, as well as providing the sector with the technically skilled engineers they need."

Students will participate in lectures and practical work, using the knowledge and skills learnt in the technical courses to design a plan for the development of a gas resource.

Drilling engineering is the first of eight courses being delivered.